Castration case against Ram Rahim: Security to witness’ family restored following death threats

After complaints of threats by dera supporters to the family of the prime witness in the case related to the castration of followers by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Haryana Police have provided security to the family.

The witness is a victim, too, and on his petition, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the registration of an FIR against Ram Rahim and two doctors who allegedly carried out the castration. He has moved to the US, but had recorded his statement before the CBI Special Magistrate, Haryana, through video conferencing. His cross-examination is pending.

The witness’ family resides in Tohana (Fatehabad). He had submitted before the CBI Special Magistrate, through his advocate Navkiran Singh, earlier that he had written letters to the CBI, dated March 25 and April 8, seeking protection for his family members, giving details about receiving death threats at the hands of dera followers. He had alleged that Ram Rahim could get him and his family killed anytime, and had sought protection for his wife and three children.

On July 11, he told the court that the security for his family was suddenly withdrawn on May 24, and some dera followers had threatened them, prompting his wife to write to the Fatehabad SP, CBI, and the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 26. She had claimed that since the withdrawal of security, she and her children were facing constant threats “extended by unknown dera supporters at the behest of accused persons, including Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh”.

The CBI, New Delhi, had written to the ADGP (Security), Haryana Police, on June 6 for providing adequate security in the form of sufficient armed personnel/gunmen around the clock to the wife of the witness. Following the directions of the CBI Special Magistrate, Haryana, on June 11, the Chandigarh branch of the CBI also wrote to the ADGP, CID and Haryana Police in this regard on July 14.

After the CBI writing twice, a joint committee of the police, comprising Fatehabad SP Siddhant Jain; CID DSP, Hisar, Ajay Kumar; Inspector Kuldeep Singh of CID, Fatehabad branch; and SI Satyavan of the security section of Fatehabad, concluded that the witness’ wife was facing “threat to her life” and it couldn’t be denied that an “unpleasant incident could take place with her”. The committee recommended security for her.

The SP then informed the DIG, CBI Chandigarh branch, Rahul Sharma, vide letter dated July 24, that the security had been provided. The CBI placed the letters from the Haryana Police before the CBI Special Magistrate today.

Haryana Tribune